Historical Events on June 24

1340: King Edward III and his fleet almost completely destroys the French fleet at the Battle of Sluys during the 100 Years War.

1374: In Aachen, Germany, cases of St. John’s Dance mysteriously erupt in the streets of the city.

1497: At Newfoundland, John Cabot lands. It’s the first European landing at the area since the Vikings landed there previously.

1509: Henry VIII becomes the King of England.

1604: The mouth of the Saint John River in Canada is discovered by Samuel de Champlain on this day.

1779: During the American Revolutionary War, the Great Siege of Gibraltar starts.

1793: In France, the first Republican Constitution is adopted by the citizens.

1916: Mary Pickford signs a million dollar contract and becomes the first female film star in history to do so. Her 2-year million dollar contract would be worth twenty-two million dollars today.

1918: Airmail service from Montreal to Toronto begins in Canada on this date.

1922: The American Professional Football Association becomes the NFL (National Football League) on this day.

1938: Pieces of a meteorite land around Chicora in Pennsylvania. It’s estimated that the meteor must have weighed approximately 450 tons when it hit the atmosphere of the Earth and exploded into a bunch of little pieces.

1939: Siam officially becomes Thailand on this day.

1940: Operation Collar begins during World War 2.

1947: A UFO sighting is reported in Mount Rainier in Washington by Kenneth Arnold.